Former OptimizeRX CEO Brings Extensive Digital Health and Pharmaceutical Patient Assistance Expertise to AI-Driven Healthcare Financing Company

Paynela, a leading healthcare financing company revolutionizing claim processing through artificial intelligence that leverages AI advancements to process thousands of medical claims in under a minute, today announced the appointment of William Febbo to its Board of Directors, effective immediately. Febbo brings over 30 years of experience in healthcare technology, digital health innovation, and pharmaceutical patient assistance programs to the rapidly growing company.

From 2016 to 2025, Febbo served as Chief Executive Officer and Director of OptimizeRX Corporation (NASDAQ:OPRX). During his tenure, he transformed OptimizeRX from a single point-of-care product into a comprehensive omnichannel platform serving top pharmaceutical companies. Under his leadership, the company became a leading provider of digital health solutions, enhancing communication between life sciences companies, healthcare providers, and patients, specifically improving access to medications through financial assistance programs.

"We are thrilled to welcome William to our Board of Directors," said Mary-Beth Macaluso, CEO of Paynela. "His deep expertise in pharmaceutical patient assistance programs, digital health technology, and his proven track record of scaling healthcare companies make him an invaluable addition to our team. William's experience aligns perfectly with our mission to eliminate financial barriers between patients and the medications they need."

Febbo currently serves as Office of the Chairman at Oxbridge Health, where he continues to champion innovative healthcare solutions focused on cost transparency and predictability. He also serves on the Board of Directors at LifeMD and as Faculty/Mentor at MIT's LinQ program, supporting the next generation of healthcare entrepreneurs and scientists.

"I'm honored to join Paynela's board at such a pivotal time. The company's mission to ensure patients receive the support they need quickly, transparently, and in full, resonates deeply with me. I've spent my career focused on solutions that attempt to declutter the patient journey, with a vision toward building systems that are both innovative and enduring for all the stakeholders. I look forward to supporting Paynela as it continues to lead with purpose, integrity, and impact."

Mr. Febbo's appointment comes at a pivotal moment for Paynela. The company was recently recognized as a 2024 AWS Generative AI Trailblazer, highlighting its leadership in applying AI to automate and accelerate healthcare data review. Paynela's platform has delivered a 320x increase in processing speed, thanks to its use of advanced generative AI technologies.

Mr. Febbo's appointment comes at a pivotal time for Paynela, which was recently named a 2024 AWS Generative AI Trailblazer in recognition of its automated, AI-driven solution for healthcare data review. The company's innovative platform has achieved remarkable efficiency gains, increasing processing speed by 320x through the use of generative AI technology.

Throughout his career, Febbo has demonstrated a strong record of building and investing in disruptive healthcare technology ventures. He previously founded MedPanel, LLC, a healthcare market research firm serving top-tier corporate and financial clients in the life sciences sector, and Plexuus, LLC, which provided compliant payment solutions for medical professionals.

Febbo earned a Bachelor of Science in International Studies and Spanish from Dickinson College and pursued further studies in Economics at Universidad de Málaga. His background includes extensive experience in fundraising, team building, product development, and strategic growth, particularly in startups, M&A, and business development.

"William's appointment reinforces our commitment to assembling a world-class board with deep healthcare technology expertise," added Macaluso. "His insights into the pharmaceutical industry's evolving needs around patient assistance programs will be instrumental as we continue to expand our AI-driven solutions and scale our operations."

About Paynela

Paynela is committed to connecting patients with care by reimagining every aspect of affordable care programs. The company's mission is to leverage innovation and technology to ensure that affordable care funds intended for patients reach their destination quickly, efficiently, and in full. Paynela's core services include:

NelaClaim - AI-driven claims processing engine that delivers speed, accuracy, and efficiency of claims adjudication so that patients receive their funds faster
NelaPay - Direct-to-patient payment options that ensure patients receive all of their funds, on their terms
NelaView - Intuitive patient portal that empowers patients to manage and own their affordability funds directly in a simple and easy way

Founded in 2024, Paynela has quickly established itself as a leader in healthcare financing innovation, helping pharmaceutical manufacturers streamline patient assistance programs while eliminating delays that historically impacted patient access to medications. The company was recognized as a 2024 AWS Generative AI Trailblazer for its groundbreaking automated solution that processes medical claims with unprecedented speed and accuracy.

For more information about Paynela, visit paynela.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250730459896/en/

Kyle Lindenboom

Kyle@Paynela.com

Paynela Appoints Healthcare Technology Veteran William Febbo to Board of Directors